Supporting means for car doors



l 2 Sheets-Sheet l a --er K. J. TOBIN SUPPORTING MEANS FOR'CAR DOORS Filed Deo.

||Pll o Nov. 27, 1934.

Nov. 27, 1934. K. J. TOBIN SUPPORTING MEANS FOR CAR DOORS Filed Dec. 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -//\/l VEN To@ NNE TH J. 75/N RINI Patented Nov. 27, 1934 PATENT oFFlcE SUPPORTING MEANS Fon CAR Doons Kenneth J. Tobin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Camel Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 17, 1931, Serial No. 581,554

'l Claims.

This invention relates to supporting means for car doors and more particularly to a structure embodying ball bearing elements which are conned upon the inside surface of the door and the arrangement is such that the weather will be effectively excluded from entering between the door and the floor of the car. In connection with the advantages resulting from such a structure may be mentioned simplicity in design, ready adaptability and cheapness of construction.

A further feature of the invention resides in an automatic latching mechanism for latching the door either in its closed or open position, a feature which is extremely desirable due to the fact that the door is susceptible of such free and easy movement upon its ball bearing mounting.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a house car illustrating the application of a side door embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken upon the line II-II of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and in which the latching mechanism is illustrated in both locking and unlocking positions.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the lower front corner of the door illustrating more clearly the locking and retaining mechanism.

Figure 4 is a horizontal vertical sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectiona view of a modified form of ball supporting means.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a ball retainer that may be used.

In referring to the drawings, it will be noted that a side sill l of a house car has been illustrated as cut away as indicated at 2 in the region of the doorway, and as embodying a Z-bar 3, the lower ange of which forming a track for supporting the car door and being deflected downwardly as Sindicated at 4 to provide a guide member. A

' door 5 is adapted to be supported upon the lower flange 3a, of said Z-bar. This door has a lower plate member 6 upon its inner surface to which a pair of opposed plate members '7 and 8 are attached. The plate 7 is provided with a lower (Cl. 2li-22) outwardly bent portion whereby a shoulder la lis formed that forms a contacting flange for bearing balls. The plate 8 is provided with an inwardly curved portion, the outer edge 8a of which forms a contact flange for the bearing balls.

'A freely floating ball spacing element 9 of angular formation having a flange 49ariding upon the curved portionv of the plate 8 is provided. This ball spacing element is provided with suitably formed spurs 10 for receiving the ball bearing elements 1l therebetween. It will be noted that the ball bearing elements 11 contact the points 7a, 8a, and the track 3a thereby forming a three point support whereby there will be very little if any slippage of the balls during their traveling movement. The lower edge of the door is provided with suitable guide brackets 12 which receive the guide portion 4 of the door as shown Vin Figure 2. Each guide bracket 12 is secured by rivets 13 which may be readily removed when it is desired to dismount the door.

It will be observed thatthe lower portion of the door is normally maintained adjacent the track 3a with the result that the weather is largely excluded from entering the car at the lower margin of said door. It will further be appreciated that the bearing balls 11 are securely housed against exposure to the weather.

In the modified form as shown in Figure 5, the door which is designated by the reference 5a has a pair of plates 14 and l5 attached to the lower plate 6. 'Ihe plate 14 is provided with a horizontal flange 14a that rests directly upon the bearing balls 11 directly opposite the point of engagement of such balls with the track 3a whereby a two point bearing is provided. The plate 15 is outwardly offset and serves as a retaining member. In this modifled construction any suitable form of ball spacer 16 may be provided for maintaining the balls in proper spaced relation. In instances where the matter of slipping of the balls upon the track is of little consequence, it may be desirable to employ the structure shown in Figure 5 Which can be very cheaply and readily manufactured. It will be evident from an inspection of Figure 5 that the weather is effectually excluded from entering between the car and the lower portion of the door. It will also be apparent that the balls in this modified construction are also securely housed against exposure to the weathering elements.

Due to the fact that a ball bearing door is extremely mobile, it is desirable to provide mechanism for automatically latching the same in its 110 open or closed position. To this end'a latch lever 17 is pivoted upon a bracket 18 upon the lower front portion of the door as indicated at 19. The lowerend of the latch lever .17 has an inwardly directed arm 20 which is adapted to en- 22 are provided with inclined walls 23 which extend from the side of the car to the outer edge of the groove so that the lever in its movement with the door may ride outwardly upon the sloping or cam portions 23 and drop by gravity into the groove 21 to securely latch the door against movement until the latch lever is withdrawn from such groove.

4It is desirable in transit to lock the latch lever 17 against uhauthorized operation and to this end there is provided a locking lever 24 which is pivoted to. the door as indicated at 25 and is provided with a socket 26 at itsfree end for engaging the upper end of the lever 17. The lever and walls of the socket 26 are provided with suitable vslots or apertures 27 for receiving a sealing ribbon whereby the lever 17 may be sealed in its closed position when the car door is closed and ready for-transit.

An angular threshold plate 28 is preferably attached to the side sill 1 and the outstanding flange of this angle plate is provided with a depending flange 29 against which the door 5 may abut. In addition to forming a threshold plate and strengthening the side sill 1 to compensate for the cut out portion, this plate also serves to exclude the weather from entering the car when the door is in its closed position.

The car is provided with upper and lower stop members 30 as shown in Figure 1 which are adapted to be engaged by' the car door at a predetermined distance from the door opening in order to stop the movement of the door at the proper time for the engagement of the latching lever vwith the latch plate 221. At the front edge of the door opening, there is a weatherstrip 31 that cooperates with suitable weatherstrip 32 upon the front edge of the door for limiting or stopping the closing movements of the door when in position to allow the latch lever to engage the y locking groove in latch plate 22.

It will be appreciated that the ball bearing mounting for the car door involving this invention is wholly upon the inside surface of the door and is securely housed against exposure to the weather and forms at the same time an eilcient weather sealing means for the lower portion of the door.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through acwiderange without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art. Y

I claiml as my invention:

1. In a house car having a floor anda side with a doorway, an angle member upon the bottom of the oor and embracing the edge thereof, said member being cut away at said doorway, a threshold plate secured to said member at said vand raceway 'and va freely floating spacing ele-- :closing said opening. a raceway upon the inner doorway, said member having a horizontal track below said doorway, a door mounted upon said car for closing said doorway, and rolling means between the inner side oi said door and said track.

2. In a house car having a door opening, a door for closing said opening, a track depending from saidcar, a raceway upon the inner side of said door, bearing balls mounted between said track ment for said balls having a ange slidably supported upon said raceway.

3. In a house car having a door and a side with a door opening, a threshold plate secured to the edge of the Hoor adjacent said door opening, a track member secured to the bottom of the door and having a horizontal ilangev extending in parallel relation to said threshold plate, said ilange having a downwardly bent lip, a door for side of said door, bearing balls between said track and raceway and guide clips upon the lower edge of said door for engaging behind said lip for guiding said door, said door-cooperating with said threshold plate to exclude the weather.

4. In,a house carrhaving a door opening, a member upon the lower part of the car comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal track portion, a door for closing said opening, a ball race-gA way attached to the lower interior portion of the door, bearing balls between said track portion and raceway, and a spacing element for said balls guided between said raceway and said vertical portion of said member.

5. In a house car having a floor and a side with a door opening, an angle member secured to the bottom of said iioor and embracing the edge thereof, a depending track member on said angle member, said track member comprising a vertical portion and a horizontal track portion with a depending lip, a door f or closing said opening, a raceway upon the interior side of said door, bearing balls between said raceway and trackportion,

a spacing element for said balls guided between said raceway and vertical portion and guide bracketsupon the lower edge of the door co` operating with said lip. Y

6. In a house car having a iloor with an edge, an angle member embracing the bottom of the floor and said edge and extending thereabove,125 said member being cut away at the doorway, an angular member secured to the side of said member in substantial alinementwith ther top of the oor, said angle member having a door supporting track secured thereto, a door having an interior ball raceway, balls mounted between said track and raceway, said door cooperating with said track and angular member to exclude the weather. Y

7. In a house car having a floor and a side sill embracing the bottom of the iloor and extending thereabove, said car having a door opening, and said sill being cut away in the region of said opening, a threshold plate attached to the side of the car in alinement with said iloor and projecting therebeyond, said side sill having a track thereon, a door for closing said opening, a track upon the interior side of said door and rolling elements mounted between said tracks for supporting said door, said door cooperating with said threshold plate to exclude the weather.

KENNETH J. TOBDI. 

